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Patsy's Blogs

Time flies!

Here I am again after a long silence. So much has happened...I don't even know where to start. I had knee surgery in Feb. Was off work for 4 months ;-) Physical Therapy for 4 months. It still bothers me and I will have to have a series of injections to replace the cushion in my knee jount. That start on Aug. 22 (5 weeks) We went to Israel in April .. totally awesome!! We stayed 2 days in Tiberias where they started the bombing last month. God's protection! Murray got married in march to a girl named Mary. She is Greek Orthodox but does not attend church much. We went to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to meet her family last week. They had a 50th wdding anniversary party..Greek style! It was great. Murray and Mary were there for a short time and had to leave. We stayed for about 5 days. We went to the beach every morning..so cool! One morning we were sitting ther in the shade reading and I started looking around. I noticed that there were alot more people and they were all men. I told frank "I think we are on a Gay part of the beach. Sure nuff...I saw a man greet 3-4 other men and instead of shaking hands they hugged and kissed...on the mouth! Yep! We were on a Gay part of the beach! :-) Now we are home for a while and back to our normal (?) routines. so how is your summer going? Patsy (Monyana)

learn something new every day

I love that phrase because it is so true. I had to get my name changed on my drivers license the other day. It had Patricia on it. When you go by Pat everyone automatically assumes your name is Patricia. In NJ, you have to take enough ID to choke a horse so I took my birth certificate, original marriage licens, old drivers license and social security card. It took a while because there were 2 Patricia Valerianos in the system??? Any way, as I was signing my name, I , being a good southern belle was telling the clerk my whole life story when she said..."you know, your name is spelled PatsEy". I said "really"? And she showed me my birth certificate and "sure nuff" there it was PatsEy and only since I was born. As many times as I have looked at my BC, I never noticed that? I am so observant!
Murray and Mary are back from Costa Rico and said they had a very good time. Murray surfed for 6 hours a day...they had to be very careful of sunburn because the sun is sooo intense down there. They said "thank everyone for the thought but no gifts, please" Between the two houses they have everything and then some. AP

catch up

I have been having trouble with my blog site but it seems to be ok now.
Murray is offically married now and is in Costa Rico with the new Mrs. Valeriano. They got married thursday night. A friend of theirs (ordained minister but not christian) married them. They will have a big party the end of summer as both of them have jobs waiting on them when they get back. Mary will be gone alot on location. We plan on going there then.
I have been sock as a dog! A really bad sinus infection. I was sitting up in the middle of the bed at 3am holding a ice pack on my face. I wondered if my eye balls would freeze? I am on antibiotics and am feeling better. No more pain.
I also am getting stir-crazy. I have been so limited in my activities with my knee surgery and now my sinuses...yuk!!!!! I am going to Wal-Mart this week if I have to crawl!
We got our passports last friday. We had to renew them this year. We are heading for Israel on the 29th and returning on the 7th. A lady in the church decided to pay our way. She has gone several times and wanted her Pastor to go.
God is good no matter how we feel and when I think about that I am refreshed! AP

It is official!

Murray finally gave Mary a ring and officially proposed. This was done on valentines day...he actually has a romantic streak! I had to drag it out of Murray. He is so private and then I had to ask Mary to share the experience with me. :-) Mary was so supprised. And she loved the ring...it is a family ring. Frank's great-aunt Daisy left it to Frank's Mom and I inherited it from her. So now it is Mary's. Both of them are very tradtional and love family heirlooms. They will be married in 2-3 weeks and honeymoon in Costa Rico.
I hope y'all got my email about the event.
I am doing good with my rehab on my knee. It is still sore and stiff but getting better every day. Are you still stiff, Leanne?
Got to run...baptism at church tonight. I love baptisms, don't you? AP

catch up time

Hi Guys...been a while since I blogged so here I am catching up....As you know, I fell last year at work...slipped on a wet floor and had to have surgery (recently) on my knee. I had the surgery last thursday and I am doing good. I was on crutches for 2 days and then I put them away. They were more uncomfortable than trying to hobble...I did have some considerable pain the first 3 days and took my percocet as needed. But now I don't need it...maybe some tylenol. Leanne...you must have really high tolerance for pain. I go to the doctor tomorow for post-surgery check-up. He wants me to have some therapy...maybe 2-3 weeks. I still hobble but not as much.
Before my surgery, the insurance company (Workmans Comp) called and told me they have a new program where I would go with aan Insurance Representative before a Judge and the judge will decide what amount of compensation I would get for having to have surgery...totally took me by surprise. I was just grateful that they were paying all my bills and reimbursing some of my paycheck. AS we were talking, he mentioned "I could get a lawyer but I didn't really need one and it might be some expense I would get stuck with....." Hmmmm, bells started clanging I got to wondering about it all. Without going into all the past details, the insurance company and my employer messed up pretty bad and my surgery schedule was dragged out for several months, possible as many as 6 months. I worked in pain, I missed work when my knee would swell and be more painful. I went to several doctors , had a ultrasound and a MRI,etc. I think that they are afraid I would sue for a lot of money....they are really dumb. It never even entered my mind. I was blown away when he mentioned it.
Anyway! Has any one had any experience with workmans comp. or dealing with insurance companies?? I am going to look into getting a lawyer...can you imagine, going before a Judge by yourself??? Now I have to concentrate on not getting greedy :-) Pray for me AP

STOMP!

Yesterday we went to New York and as we got to the NY skyline I had such pleasant flashbacks to when the Girls got together for the first time ( next time, Leane, you WILL be there). We had such fun and I can't wait til we do it again.
We went in to do something special. Murray gave us tickets to see STOMP at the Orpheum theater in Greenage Village. Hundreds of people, some of which you question if human, milling around the streets. All the little shops. They will put a store in the smallest of spaces. We ate at a Greek restaurant and the food was good.
If you haven't seen STOMP on TV, look for it...it is awesome. We had orchestra seats...which I normally don't like because it is too close. But the theater is small although it holds 350 . This time though it was great because you got to see the expressions on the performers faces. You could tell they loved what they were doing and it was funny also. STOMP is about these people taking all kinds of everyday items like brooms, garbage cans, rubber hoses, etc. and makes rythm...loud rythm... with them. The whole theater , walls, ceiling was covered with junk from a junk yard. It was great!!!!! Thank you, my Murray!
Speaking of my Murray...you remember he is getting married in a non-conventional way. I asked him if he was getting Mary a ring and he said not necessarily. I told him about two rings that I had if he would be interested...one was mine that Frank gave me when Gregg was about 2, so that was about 35 years ago. Actually it was the first ring he gave me. I haven't worn it in years. The second was from Frank's great-aunt Daisy. It was too small for me. Aunt Daisy was the renegade in her family...I always felt I could relate to her. :-) I think I might have met her once. Anyway, when she died, all her rings went to Frank's Mom and she passed them around and I ended with this one. I took the rings out and looked at them and decided I couldn't part with the ring Frank gave me :-) so I really pushed Aunt Daisy's ring. He loved it, partly because it is a pretty little ring , actually a real engagement ring. And partly because it is old and from the family. My boys are really traditional in family ways.
So I kept my ring...I wonder if Gregg will want it and if I will be able to give it up then? I really love the idea of keeping it in the family. I can't wait til Murray gives it to Mary....
Oh, did I tell you it is 4:00 in the morning? Can you tell by how long this blog is? :-)
Sometimes I wake up and can't go back to sleep...thanks for listening... Uh, reading this AP

marriage proposal

We were sitting in Charlie Browns restaurant (my favorite) a few days before christmas. It was Me, Frank, Murray and Mary. In the middle of our meal, Murray blurts out...."Next year me and Mary are getting married and I am moving into her house." We just sat there, looking at Murray for what seemed like minutes when it probably was seconds, with our mouths open and the fork suspended in midair. Mary later said she almost choked on her salad.
When we were able to speak, we probably said something stupid like..."Oh, yeah?" Then Murray went on to say that they weren't having a big wedding but were going to Costa Rica or Hawaii, possibly in Feb. Mary said that she had never dreamed of a big wedding. I told Frank later that she was probably just relieved that Murray decided to make that committment, which has been a big problem with Murray. In the past, the girls would push and he would run...fast and far. So maybe this means that it is the real thing...hope so!
Sorry, Leanne about the postage...forgot the rates went up. :-) AP

nostalgia big time!

We are finally putting away the christmas tree and decorations. ( I said we had 2-3 weeks grace after the new year) We listened to christmas music as we were taking off the ornaments. Frank went to do something and "Christmas in Dixie" came on. Tears ran down my cheeks and even now as I type this. I love my heritage...I am southern inside and out and no matter where I live I will be southern. I figured out today that I don't miss the ground of the south but all that the south is to me. ..Family ,no matter where they are, and memories of days gone by. I was ok with it until I stood in the yard and looked at the bare tree laying on it's side with the bare wreath on top of it, waiting to go to the chipper or wherever discarded trees go. I felt sad....not so much for the tree but for the wonderful memories put away for another year and for new changes showing up.
Murray is getting married and I wonder how our relationship will change. Right now, I am the most important woman in his life ( he told me so :-) ) Maybe some bad experiences has me a little scared. Our christmases will be different too. Will we go to California for christmas or Montana?? ( Kim, be patient with Brett's Mom)
Soon we will be retiring and all the major changes that will bring is alittle daunting to think of.
I am not worried or even scared, just a little emotional. I know God will direct and take care of us...not doubt about that. Praise the Lord for His grace and goodness!
Now I have to go finish putting things away...thanks for listening, I feel better...AP